Step 4 - Pages > Contact Form Object

Use the commands in this section to define how the data submitted in contact forms is to be treated.

In the Data submission box you have to specify how the website Administrator is to receive the data. You have the following options:

	Send data by e-mail: is the default option. Data submitted through the forms is automatically sent via e-mail, using a PHP script.
	Send data to a Database: the data submitted in the form is automatically sent to the specified MySQL database, using a PHP script.
	Send data to a file: the data submitted through the form is saved in the specified script format (.PHP, .ASP, etc.). This option is useful if you want to use your own script, for example if .PHP is not available on your server, or if you want to include particular procedures or implement specific data management procedures.

You have to set a number of parameters for each send option:

Send data by e-mail:

▪	Sender e-mail address: this indicates the address from which to send the e-mail in reply to data submitted in the form.

By default, the send address is the same as the receiver which, in this case, is that of the website Administrator. If you specify that the send address is that of the visitor who filled in the form, it will be possible, for example, to use the e-mail Reply command.

▪	User e-mail address: this indicates the address that will receive the data submitted through the forms. You can type in more than one address: separate them with a semi-colon (;).

▪	Subject: this indicates the subject of the e-mail containing the submitted data.

▪	Message: this is the text to be used in the e-mail.

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Include the collected data in CSV format: the submitted data is also saved in a .CSV file, and added to the e-mail. Data in a .CSV file is written in text form, like a long list of items, separated by a semi-colon (;): these files can easily be imported into spreadsheet programs (Microsoft Excel, for example).

Send data to a Database:

▪	Database: select the database from the list of those linked to the project. Use the commands in the Data Management window to create the list of databases to link to the project.

▪	Table Name: enter the name of the table in the database where you want submitted data to be added. If the table doesn't exist, it will be created automatically.

▪	Send an e-mail to notify the data has been received: a notification e-mail will be sent automatically when new data arrive.

▪	User e-mail address: enter the recipient address of the e-mail notifying data reception.

Send data to a file:

▪	Script file (e.g. PHP, ASP): you can import the script file to use for collecting and sending submitted data. You must create the script file manually.

If you do not select Send data to a file as a Data submission method in Confirmation e-mail for the user, the following options are displayed:

▪	Send a confirmation e-mail to the user: select this option if you want the visitor to receive automatic confirmation by e-mail when he submits data.

▪	Sender e-mail address: enter a valid and active e-mail address to use as the confirmation e-mail sender.

By default, the confirmation e-mail sender's address, which in this case is that of the website Administrator, is the address given as User e-mail address in the Data submission section. Enter a different Sender e-mail address if you want the confirmation e-mail to be sent from a different address, instead of the one that receives submitted forms. This option is useful if you prefer to communicate with visitors using a generic address (such as info@mycompany.com or noreply@mycompany.com) rather than a personal address (name.surname@mycompany.com).

▪	User e-mail address: you can specify which field in the e-mail form the confirmation e-mail address is to be taken from.

▪	Subject: specify the subject of the confirmation e-mail.

▪	Message: specify the message of the confirmation e-mail.

▪	Include the collected data: add submitted data at the end of the confirmation e-mail.

Finally, you can select the following Options:

▪	Enable 'Captcha' anti-spam filter: you can add the Captcha anti-spam filter to the end of the contact form.

Use the command in the Privacy and Security | Security window to choose the captcha system that is to be used.

▪

Confirmation page after sending data: this option displays the website Map where you can indicate the page that is to be displayed when the e-mail form has been filled in and the submitted data have been sent via e-mail. It is a good idea to have a specific page for this purpose, rather than using the Home page, so that you can include a thank-you message in it. This page must be Hidden: the command for this is in Step 3 - Map.

You can customize the style of the e-mails that are sent automatically, using the options in the E-mail layout window.

Best practices:

-	How to work with the Contact Form Object

Commands in the Send section

Commands in the Send section